Future uncertain for Harpers Ferry small businesses

October 2, 2013

HARPERS FERRY - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is closed during the government shutdown, and small business owners are unsure how they will be affected.

Many of the small businesses in Harpers Ferry rely on the stream of tourists that visit the town after enjoying the park for business. The closing of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park during the shutdown may mean less business for shops and restaurants in Harpers Ferry. Another worry is that those who do visit Harpers Ferry may not be able to find parking, as many visitors park at the National Park's visitors center and continue their visit to Harpers Ferry on foot. Public restrooms are also unavailable while the park is closed, since the town's public restrooms belong to the park.

Laura Clark, owner of The Outfitter, still hopes to get some business from customers coming in off the Appalachian Trail, which is not affected by the government shutdown.

"The park has left the bridges open, and the trail system is still accessible," Clark said.

Clark speculates that impact of the government shutdown will be economy-wide, as people who are normally working will find themselves essentially without jobs.

"I think people are going to be very, very careful with their money. It's the first of the month, and everyone's mortgage and utility bills are due. People don't know what's going to happen next," Clark said. "It's worrisome."

Clark plans on keeping The Outfitter open and will carry on as usual.

"We're still here, and still open if anyone needs supplies," Clark said.

Gary DuBrueler, president of the Harpers Ferry Merchants Association, owns The Village Shop with his wife. DuBrueler is concerned about how the park's closing will affect parking.

"The parking situation in lower town Harpers Ferry for the businesses is always an issue, each day," DuBrueler said. "We have a limited number of parking spaces and we rely heavily on the National Park Service's parking lot and shuttle services to bring visitors down to Harpers Ferry."

DuBrueler believes the park closure will mean less tourist traffic and ultimately less business for Harpers Ferry merchants.

"The tour groups that come into the national park will no longer be coming in for as long as they're shut down. Fifty people per bus means it could be a couple hundred people a day that wouldn't be able to come down because they cut those (tours) off," DuBrueler said. "A lot of the visitors to lower town come to walk through the national park, see the museums and then come in to eat and shop after they've visited the park. If the park's closed, that means people won't even come to Harpers Ferry."

Susan Benjamin, owner of True Treats, is expecting a slump in sales will take place during the shutdown.

"I think it will affect everybody the same way, there won't be much business," Benjamin said. "Hopefully it won't hurt us too bad and hopefully it will be short."

The government shutdown's potentially negative effect on businesses is helping Benjamin think creatively about ways to continue doing business.

"We sell wholesale and online, so we're just increasing that to be able to have other avenues of bringing in money," Benjamin said. "There's nothing you can really do except work harder."